All Else Failed
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Bio
All Else Failed is a five-piece hailing from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Over the past nine years, they have amassed a loyal following by repeatedly setting new standards in the realm of heavy music. From their maniacal live shows to their thought-provoking and genre-bending albums, All Else Failed refuses to be predictable and demands to be heard.
Originally inspired by the groundswell of independent heavy music of the early to mid ‘90s, All Else Failed first landed on the scene in mid-1995 with one singular objective: to tear apart every venue they set their feet in. Early recordings display the impeccable musicianship that has since become their trademark, but their live shows took the experience to another level. The audience and the band were one; equipment rarely made it out alive. Founding members Luke Muir, Patrick Shannon and Steve Wiegand regularly left the stage bloodied and broken, always giving every ounce of passion they had. “Our live show is energetic to the point of a heart attack,” says Shannon. “I hope everyone that enjoys the music on record gets the chance to see us live, because that is really where the band is at its finest. We just put everything we have into it.” As word of these shows spread, All Else Failed was offered shows up and down the East Coast, playing any room that would let them in.
After several independent releases and a handful of lineup changes, All Else Failed signed to Now Or Never Records in the Summer of 2000 and recorded Archetype shortly thereafter. Archetype captured the raging intensity that people had come to know as All Else Failed, but also showed that they were capable of weaving that intensity with haunting melodies, intricate time changes and experimental effects to create a hypnotic and truly unique sound. Songs such as "Route 1" and "Did You Think Of Me?" featured perhaps the heaviest doses of said qualities and became instant fan favorites. The band even received considerable airtime on MTV and VH1 with the song and music video for "In Time". The band played constantly in support of the record, including shows with such notable acts as the Dillinger Escape Plan, Hatebreed and Killswitch Engage. All Else Failed reached every corner of the country, and they regularly dropped every jaw in the house.
Unfortunately, the lineup change bug bit again soon after Archetype, as some members decided the lifestyle of a touring band was not for them. Luke, Pat and Steve knew that All Else Failed had more gas in the tank, however, and decided that it may be best to lay low until they could assemble the right lineup of like-minded, dedicated musicians. In the meantime, they wrote material that would turn into This Never Happened, which takes all of the elements they established on Archetype one step further. “We focused completely on making great songs as opposed to worrying about fitting into any pre-conceived formula,” says Shannon. “You're equally likely to hear a part influenced by the Psychedelic Furs or Joy Division as you are to hear one influenced by Slayer or Anthrax. With this record especially we are comfortable introducing all of our influences into our mix.” This Never Happened was recorded by Nick Rotundo (Boysetsfire) and engineered by Alan Douches (Burnt By The Sun, Converge, Every Time I Die) with guest drumming courtesy of Chris Pennie (the rhythm machine behind Dillinger Escape Plan). With new permanent members Dave Davies and Mike Halphen now firmly in place and the imminent release of This Never Happened on Abacus Recordings, All Else Failed is poised to continue their path of destruction for years to come.
